Double-digit sales growth

Groupe Adeo, the number two in the European DIY retail trade, recorded total sales of € 7.9 bn (gross) and a workforce of 40 000 in 2006. This amounts to an increase of 15 per cent by comparison with the previous year. Leroy Merlin, the large-format retail channel operates stores in Brazil, China, Spain, France, Greece, Portugal and Russia). In France the chain numbered 104 outlets at the end of the year and generated gross sales of € 3.8 bn, which amounts to growth of 10 per cent on the previous year. The group is active in the neighbourhood store segment with its Aki outlets in Spain and Portugal (39 in total), which achieved sales of € 340 mio. The 53 Bricocenter stores in Italy made sales amounting to € 300 mio. The group also announced gross sales of € 285 mio for its 22 discount stores: Bricoman in France and Poland, plus Bricomart in Spain.